(Most common legacy target) .NET Framework 4.5.1 Developer Pack .NET Framework 4.5 Base Runtime What is in the Developer Pack?
: Installing the Windows 8 SDK includes the .NET Framework 4.5 targeting pack by default.
Best practices
| | Description & Link | | :--- | :--- | | Microsoft Learn Guide | The primary resource. It provides a comprehensive list of links for all .NET Framework versions, from 4.5 to 4.8.1. | | Developer Packs Hub | A centralized download hub for .NET Framework targeting packs and developer packs. | | Visual Studio Build Tools | An alternative method for downloading the targeting pack. You can run the Visual Studio 2017 or 2019 Build Tools installer and select the ".NET Framework 4.5 Targeting Pack" from the "Individual components" tab. | | NuGet Package (Workaround) | This is a fallback method if the official links are unavailable. You can download the Microsoft.NETFramework.ReferenceAssemblies.net45 package from NuGet. |
The installs the .NET Framework runtime (for testing and debugging) plus the multi-targeting pack containing reference assemblies needed to build applications for that specific framework version. As noted in the documentation, "Developers can build applications targeting the .NET Framework 4.5.1 using either Visual Studio 2012 or third-party IDEs". net framework 45 developer pack link
How to obtain the Developer Pack
When running .NET Framework 4.5 or newer installers, you might encounter blocking issues. Common blockers include: (Most common legacy target)
If your build server or command line throws an error stating that the framework directories cannot be found, your system registry is likely missing the pathing variables.
Click in the bottom right corner to download and install. Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues Missing Framework Error in Visual Studio It provides a comprehensive list of links for all
Scroll down to the .NET section, check the box for , and click Modify to force the installation through the IDE. Moving Beyond .NET 4.5: Modern Alternatives